The vast majority of men masturbate. In a nationally representative U.S. survey of nearly 1,800 men published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, about 36% reported masturbating at least once a week over the prior year, and that figure only captures the most frequent group. When you include men who masturbate less regularly, the overall prevalence is far higher, with most research placing lifetime rates for men somewhere between 90% and 95%.
How Often Men Masturbate
Among men surveyed, the breakdown of past-year frequency looked like this:
- Almost every day: about 10%
- Two to three times per week: about 17%
- Once a week: about 9%
That means roughly one in ten men masturbates daily or close to it, while another quarter or so does so at least once a week. The remaining men fall into less frequent categories, from a few times a month to a few times a year, or report not masturbating at all. Frequency is significantly higher in men than in women. Only about 9% of women reported weekly masturbation in the same survey, compared to 36% of men.
These numbers almost certainly undercount the real frequency. Sex research relies on self-reporting, and even in anonymous surveys, people tend to underreport behaviors they feel self-conscious about. The true rates are likely somewhat higher across every category.
How Age and Relationships Affect Frequency
Masturbation is most frequent in younger men, typically peaking in the late teens and twenties, then gradually declining with age. But “declining” doesn’t mean disappearing. Studies consistently find that men in their 40s, 50s, and beyond continue masturbating regularly, just less often on average than men in their 20s.
Being in a relationship doesn’t eliminate masturbation either. Many men in committed partnerships, including marriages, continue to masturbate alongside an active sex life. This is normal and, in most cases, unrelated to dissatisfaction with a partner. For many men, solo sex serves a different function than partnered sex: it’s quicker, requires no coordination, and can be a simple way to relieve tension or fall asleep.
Physical Health Effects
Masturbation has no known negative health effects at typical frequencies. It doesn’t cause blindness, infertility, hormonal problems, or any of the other consequences that persistent myths suggest. From a medical standpoint, it’s considered a normal part of sexual function across the lifespan.
There’s even some evidence it may be protective. A large study that followed 32,000 men for 18 years found that those who ejaculated most frequently (at least 21 times per month) had a 20% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who ejaculated four to seven times per month. That finding doesn’t prove masturbation prevents cancer, but it does suggest that frequent ejaculation, from any source, is not harmful and may carry some benefit.
Effects on Mood and Sleep
Orgasm triggers the release of dopamine and oxytocin, two hormones that promote feelings of pleasure and relaxation. These also help counteract cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. The practical result is what most men already know from experience: masturbation can reduce stress, improve mood, and make it easier to fall asleep.
Research has linked masturbation to reduced tension, better focus, pain relief, and even lower rates of anxiety and depression. None of this means masturbation is a treatment for mental health conditions, but it does appear to function as a reliable short-term mood regulator for many people.
When Frequency Becomes a Concern
There is no specific number of times per week that crosses into “too much.” The line isn’t about frequency itself but about consequences. If masturbation starts interfering with work, relationships, or daily responsibilities, or if it becomes the only way someone can manage stress or difficult emotions, that pattern is worth examining. Some men also develop a grip or stimulation pattern during masturbation that makes partnered sex less satisfying, a reversible issue that usually resolves by varying technique.
For the overwhelming majority of men, though, masturbation at any typical frequency is physically harmless and psychologically normal. It remains one of the most common sexual behaviors across every age group, relationship status, and cultural background, even if it’s rarely discussed openly.